Game apparatus



Sept. 5, 1933. J. A. STOREN 1,925,213

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 17, 19:50

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1933. J. A. STOREN 1,925,213

Filed July 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNNNNN OR qlflmfirm ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 5, 1933 GAME APPARATUS James A. Storen, Watervliet, N. Y.

Application July 17, 1930. Serial No. 468,701

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for playing an improved game which will be somewhat like bowling, but which is so constructed that a high degree of skill will berequired to knock down the several pins. A further object is to provide an improved game whose balls may be thrown by hand or may be struck by a cue.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and showing a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved game apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts in section of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the game apparatus is shown in the form of a bowling table 10 providing, in effect, a portable alley along which the balls are rolled by the player. Instead of providing a portable table the alleyway may be built as a part of a building, as will be understood. The bowling table 10 has a bed 11 supported by legs 12. Extending longitudinally of the table on each side is a guard 13 projecting a sufficient distance above the level of the bed 11 to prevent the balls from rolling oif the sides of the apparatus. Adjacent each guard 13, but on the inside thereof, is a gutter 14 extending substantially the entire length of the bed.

At the far or rear end of the bed 11 is a series of parallel ball runs conveniently made of upright blocks 15 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to permit one of the balls 16 to pass between any two of such runs. The upper surfaces of the blocks providing the ball runs 15 are rearwardly inclined and preferably are curved, as shown in Fig. 1. While any number of ball runs may be provided, I have shown five runs, with the middle run the tallest of the five, the two intermediate runs of the same height and the two outside runs of the same height but much lower than the other runs.

The blocks 15 providing the ball runs are all preferably of the same length with their front and rear edges terminating in the same transverse planes. The inclined surfaces of the runs are preferably in the forms of reverse curves to render it more difiicult to roll the balls up the a inclines. Herein, the runs are shown as being concaved downwardly from their mid portions and convexed upwardly from their mid portions. The ends of the runs are preferably fiat and at their lower front ends merge into the surface of the table. V

In the playing of the game, it is the object of the player to roll or strike the balls in such a way that they will transverse the upper surfaces of the blocks 15 and will knock down a pin, in the nature of a bowling pin, movably positioned at the end of each run. To insure the straight traveling of a ball which has been properly. thrown or struck, over the curved portions of each block, the upper surfaces thereof are grooved, as shown at 17 in Figs. 1 and 4. The grooves terminate at the upper and lower flat surfaces and are tapered in depth at their ends. Thus any ball which is thrown straight at one of the runs will be guided by the groove to the upper rear end of the ball run where it will strike the pin 18. On the other hand, a ball which has not been thrown true to the mark will not mount a ball run but will fall or roll into the passageway between two of the runs or between an outside run and the adjacent A guard 13; or if thrown wildly will roll along one of the gutters 14.

The apparatus is designed so that it may be played conveniently by a single player, and hence the pins 18 are so mounted that they can be re-set after being knocked over. Each pin 18 is rigidly secured upon a. rod 19, each rod 19 entering the pin at the bottom and being pivotally mounted on a transverse rod 20 secured to the bottom of the bed 11 at the extreme rear end thereof. The several rods 19 are so arranged that the center of gravity of the pin which is carried on each rod will be slightly forward of the pivot axis, that is, the axis of the transverse rod 20, as will be understood by referring to Fig. 1. Thus the pins will maintain the rods 19 in upright position, said rods then bearing against the rear ends of the respective ball runs 15. When the pins are struck by the balls, they will fall substantially into the dotted line position of Fig. 1, then resting against the back of a casing 21. Preferably casing 21 has a padding 22 so that the heavy pins will not mar the surface of the casing and so that the pins themselves will not be damaged by the impact.

As the balls, after knocking the pins down or after passing between the pins, must fall below, a fibrous pad 23 is provided. Preferably the pad 23 is sloped transversely so as to deliver the balls more or less centrally of a chute 24 extending beneath the bed for the entire length thereof.

Thus when the balls fall into the casing, they strike the pad 23 without any perceptible jar to the apparatus and without damage to the balls, and then roll centrally downthe channel -like chute 24 to the forward end of the apparatus where they are held by a shoulder 25, and thus are within reach of the player through an opening 26.

The pin re-setting mechanism, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in dotted lines Fig. 3, comprises arod 2'1 extending underneath the bedand slidably mounted thereon, said rod having, branches 2'7 at its rear end, the two branches being joined by a cross bar 28. The cross bar 28 engages the rods 19 when the pins. on said ,movement of the cross bar 28' as it re-sets the pins 18. A retracting spring 31 engages rod 2'! and normally holds said rod in thezposi'tion shown in full lines in Fig". 1', the operator pulling against the spring 3]; when re-setti'ng the pins.

In playing the game, any suitable method of scoring may be employed. As each of the pins is arranged at the rear end of a separate ball run, it will be necessary to roll or strike the balls with great accuracy, and clearly skill and not chance will predominate in the game. This is especially true as it is not only necessary to deliver the balls straight to the lower ends of the runs but it is also necessary to proportion the speed of the balls to the varying inclinations of the runs.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. Game apparatus comprising, in combination, a bed over which the balls are rolled; a plurality of. spaced ball runs extending longitudinally of the bed and arranged ,in parallel vertical planes the bed and arranged in parallel vertical planes 1 and having inclined upper edges or faces to receive the balls, said ball runs being provided with front and rear flat or smooth terminal portions and having intermediate longitudinal grooves tapering in depth at their ends; and pins located atthe rear ends of the ball runs.

JAMES A. STOREN. 

